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Leading article: Cullen must stand down

If Ireland shared a proper sense of political propriety Martin Cullen, the minister for transport, would already be cooling his heels on his party’s backbenches. That he survives in cabinet is testimony to the lax standards that apply within Irish politics. Twice in his relatively short ministerial career, officials in his department have awarded lucrative contracts to Monica Leech, one of Cullen’s closest political allies and fundraisers. On neither occasion was Leech subjected to a rigorous tender process. She has subsequently earned in excess of €300,000 for a few days’ work each week.

Cullen believes that he has done nothing wrong and argues that it would be unjust to exclude people from government contracts on the grounds that they were supporters of the government parties. It is undoubtedly wrong, however, that political supporters should receive contracts without independent vetting.